Tiger Woods, 43, says he expects to play when the Masters starts in April despite withdrawing from last week's Arnold Palmer Invitational due to a neck strain.

The golfer, who is ready to play this week’s Players Championship at Sawgrass, says the neck problem which is linked to his spinal fusion surgery in 2017 and is an issue he has to “manage”.”It’s not painful now,” he said.

“It’s about trying to manage what I have. I’m 43 with four back surgeries so let’s manage what I have and understand that I’m going to have good weeks and bad weeks.”

“It was getting to the point where it was affecting my set-up, my backswing, it was just gradually getting worse and that’s just because my lower back is fused,” Woods added.

Woods is ppresently ranked 11th in the world, having recovered from being in the 1,199 spot after spinal fusion surgery-the latest of multiple operations.